Ethics & Transparency
ETHICAL PRODUCTION
It is important for us to be able to do something good for the planet and the people. High unemployment and little education, infant mortality, malnutrition and the danger of trafficking are urgent problems in Indonesia. Especially Balinese Women and Children in particular face extreme challenges to survival. Unsanitary conditions in substandard housing, lack of running water, prevalent sewage. 35% of Balinese teeter on the brink, with income just marginally above poverty. That's why at Save The Wave we decided to contribute to this situation and have found a manufacturer in Bali, that provides jobs for women and demonstrates good working conditions comparable to western standards.
Unfortunately, Indonesia also is the world's second-largest plastic polluter. It produces 3.2 million tonnes of mismanaged plastic waste every year. 1.29 million tonnes end up right in the ocean. Together with our manufacturer we fight this massive pollution. Turning trash into treasure.
We have a close relationship with our manufacturer. In our quest to save the wave, we want to contribute to employee friendliness in developing countries. Therefore, we choose clearly for the manufacturer that treats its employees in a good way, respect the human rights of men and women and provide their employees with an opportunity to acquire new skills and educate themselves. Our supplier has fulfilled all the Indonesian Government's regulations on the treatment of employees, waste disposal, sanitation and was able to provide us with the necessary evidence. The working conditions are highly important. The employees are paid well over the living wage, 13 months' salary a year, receive free medical insurance covering doctors' fees, prescribed medication & hospitalization which is extended to their spouse & up to three children. Every morning, the manufacturer provides employees with a glass of fresh juice with Vitamin C, D, B & E added and a fresh healthy cooked meal for lunch. The facility is fully air-conditioned & on par with any western establishment. If overtime work becomes available each employee has the right to refuse or accept as they see fit. It is never forced. The employees receive double wages for the first 1.5 hours & triple for the second 1.5 hours.
The mission of our manufacturer is to produce as close as humanly possible organic fabrics, organic dyes, bio-degradable packaging, ensuring zero water pollution as well as donating all left-over fabric scraps to a local charity, Bali Street Mums. Bali Street Mums provides desperately needed resources including shelter, clothing, education, basic health care and food to the impoverished women and children of Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. The supplier ensures that any left-over fabric scraps are donated to local charity-based groups who make them into saleable goods.
TRANSPARENCY
We want to be as transparent as possible to our customers and explain why sustainability can seem expensive.
That's why we give you an overview of our costs behind the product that is made from recycled materials that have been produced under ethical conditions. Our products are handmade and come in smaller quantities, which also has an impact on production costs. Moreover, we are a young sustainable brand, therefore our marketing costs are higher than with fast fashion brands. We also donate from every sale to Surfrider Foundation EU to support their ocean conservation activities.
Here we give you an overview of what it costs to make a swimwear set and what we actually earn from it:
LABOR |
€11 |
FABRIC |
€9 |
ACCESSORIES |
€4 |
TRANSPORTATION |
€7 |
PHOTOGRAPHY |
€9 |
ONLINE COST / ADMINISTRATION |
€6 |
MARKETING |
€15 |
CHARITY |
€5 |
SHIPPING (NL) |
€3,95 |
REAL PRODUCT COST |
€69,95 |
PRICE (exclusive VAT) |
€93,22 |
REAL EARN FROM BIKINI SET |
€ 23,27 |